Old Man Banksia commonly grows as a gnarled tree up to 16 m, but it can be much smaller in exposed areas.

 

It gets its name from the wrinkled grey bark and serrata is Latin for “saw-like” and refers to its shiny dark green saw edged leaves.

 

The large yellow or greyish-yellow flower spikes appear over summer and turn grey as they age.

 

When pollinated, the flower spikes develop into large, grey, woody seed pods called follicles.